It was just over a year ago when Evangeline and Oscar, who were seven at the time, teamed up for a school project to try and change the world.
“I wanted to help the ocean and take all the oil and garbage out of it,” said Evangeline via Zoom from her home in Ladysmith.
The two École North Oyster Elementary school students created an oil and garbage-eating mechanical jellyfish. Through their school, their ocean-cleaning invention was then submitted to the United Kingdom-based Little Inventors program.
Through Little Inventors, they were then connected with a college design student from Toronto who brought their concept to life via an animated video.
“If I can rate it, it would be a 10 out of 10,” said Oscar, sitting beside Evangeline via Zoom.
After months of delays due to the pandemic, their project called ‘La Meduse’ (‘the jellyfish’ in French) was selected as one of fifteen inventions from around the world to reach the Little Inventors online showcase.
“It was so cool,” said Oscar.
“I felt extremely proud,” said Debra McClements, Oscar’s mother. “Oscar has got so much passion for it and just to see him super passionate about something made me super proud.”
Meanwhile, Evangeline is already a regular volunteer at the Bush Creek fish hatchery in Ladysmith.
“Being aware of nature and how we’re affecting nature and stuff is something she was brought up with,” said Liz Laforest, Evangeline’s mother. “She’s always had a real passion for helping.”
The next step is turning their creation into reality, and though that may be years away, the two say they are more passionate than ever when it comes to saving the ocean.
Kevin Charach
